Jeremiah 31:7-9

“See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labour, together; a great company, they shall return here.” vs. 8

Jeremiah was a hard-nosed prophet, and as we read his book we get an earful of judgment. The Lord was not pleased with the faithlessness of Israel and Judea. They were the Chosen People and they had disregarded the commandments of God and profaned worship. Surely they would be defeated by their enemies and driven into exile. People in Jerusalem were tired of Jeremiah and refused to listen to his fiery blasts of condemnation. But that isn’t the whole picture of Jeremiah and it certainly doesn’t reflect his full teaching about the grace and mercy of God. You see, Jeremiah knew that the bottom line with even the God of the Hebrew scriptures was grace. Even though the people had turned their backs on God and deserved punishment, there would be a return to the land, there would be restoration and healing, and no one would be left behind! There was a future for the people of God! Wow! What a powerful message, it’s not what we might expect from Jeremiah. And the best news is that this is also the word that we hear from the mouth of Jesus. It’s the message that should be shouted from the pulpit of every church in the land. Our past never defines our future.

Thought for the Day: When do we need a word of judgment?

Matthew 2:16-23

“But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee.” vs. 22

In an age when tribal connections meant everything and many people expected that the messiah would come from the tribe of Judah, David’s tribe, it was a bit of a mystery how Jesus would have been raised in the village of Nazareth in Galilee. As Nathaniel puts it indelicately in John’s gospel, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Matthew was certainly aware of such feelings and takes pains to tell how Joseph moved Mary and Jesus north when they returned from Egypt. It wasn’t strange at all. In fact, in the preceding century many people had moved from the area of Bethlehem to Galilee and they were probably all from the tribe of Judah. Joseph likely settled in Nazareth, a hamlet only three miles from the thriving city of Sepphoris, because there would be plenty of work for a carpenter there. We know what that’s like. Our families get scattered too, and it’s rare to discover people who live in the place where they were born. The good news is that as we move we can always find a new family, and that happens most often in our congregations. There it’s not our tribe that counts but our connection to Jesus. Jesus thrived in Galilee, and it’s there that his ministry caught fire.

Thought for the Day: Where have I found family as I’ve moved?

Matthew 2:13-18

“Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’” vss. 14-15

In the gospel of Matthew Jesus is presented as a new Moses, a leader chosen by God to inaugurate a new covenant with Israel. Rescued from King Herod as a baby, just as Moses was saved from the pharaoh, Jesus too spends his early years in Egypt in kind of a divine witness protection program. And then to prepare for his mission, Jesus leaves Egypt with his parents and goes to live in Nazareth. Moses went to Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, while Jesus begins his teaching with the Beatitudes on a mountain in Galilee. Of course Jesus was more than a new Moses, and presented in his teaching, not a new law but a new way of life. As the gospel of John puts it, “The law indeed was given through Moses: grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” It’s important for us to remember this distinction. Too many would like nothing better than to turn Jesus into a law-giver and ignore his teachings on forgiveness and mercy. Following Jesus is far more than obeying a set of rules and commandments. Joseph paid attention to his dreams. In Christ we  learn to listen to the Spirit of God and to go with the gospel wherever a word of grace is needed

Thought for the Day: Who needs a word of grace today?

Isaiah 63:7-9

“I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord,

because of all that the Lord has done for us, and the great favour to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.” vs. 7

When the people returned from exile in Babylon they found that the land of their dreams had been devastated. The walls of Jerusalem had been torn down and their beloved temple had been burned. But they had long memories, and sitting in the ruins of their city they remembered the gracious deeds of the Lord, and they dared to dream that they would one day again be the beneficiaries of God’s mercy and steadfast love. That’s what we’ve been doing through these last weeks of Advent. In many ways they are a recitation of what God has done. We’ve remembered the birth of a Savior who was called by the name Emmanuel, (God is with us), and now as we move on in the Spirit of Christmas we dare to hope for signs of God’s continued presence. It may be that we’ve seen some rough times. And now it could  be that we’re glimpsing some positivity. That’s a good feeling for the dawn of a new year. We can certainly count on God for mercy and forgiveness, and with that,  healing and restoration, and maybe even a whole new beginning!

Thought for the Day: What positivity am I glimpsing?

John 1:1-14

“What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” vss. 3b-5

John doesn’t have an infancy narrative in his gospel. For him what happened in Jesus was connected not to a stable but to the Word through whom life itself had come into being. This life was the light of all people and exposed them to the goodness of God. And even though the brokenness of the world is obvious to all, through Christ we have a connection to the Light, and through that Light forgiveness, healing, and restoration touch our lives every single day. For John Jesus was the incarnation of that Light and by the grace of God those who receive him have the capacity to live as the children of the Light. Do all receive him? Of course not! But that doesn’t mean the Light is not in their DNA. The Light is what gives them life! After a time, it has been said, those who live in Christ begin to “expect the unexpected,” and we begin to see the Light where we never dreamed that it might be seen, and our hearts are strangely warmed. It might even happen today! It’s Christmas after all and even the cultural clutter cannot totally obscure the Light of the world. If we open our eyes, we might even see it in the debris of our celebration!

Thought for the Day: What did I not expect to see today?

Luke 2:1-14

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” vs. 7

When Luke wrote his beautiful account of Jesus’ birth, his graphic details emphasize the humble setting. Jesus wasn’t born in a royal palace but in a stable, and his first visitors were shepherds, not kings. There was intention in Luke’s description. Jesus was of humble origin, and not a child of privilege. There were no servants or nurses to assist Mary and Joseph–they made do with what they had, and Jesus grew up with a heart for the poor and the needy that was later reflected in his ministry. It made a difference. Those born to wealth and privilege don’t have a clue about the essentials of life, and they often behave like the rich people Jesus featured in his parables. These are the kinds of folks who grow up with an appetite for power, and they devote their lives to amassing fortunes for themselves and their cronies. It’s hard for such folks to be followers of Jesus. As he said several times, it’s impossible to serve both wealth and God! Tonight, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus we can’t help but remember his birth in a manger and his life-long love of the poor. If we aspire to be his followers we would be advised to consider the stumbling block of riches and instead devote our lives to standing with those he called, “the least of these.”

Thought for the Day: Who are the least of these?

Titus 2:11-14

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly…vss. 11-12

In these final days of Advent it’s hard to go anywhere without being greeted by the words “Merry Christmas,” or at least, “Happy Holidays.” The Birth of Jesus is not sneaking up on anyone! We’ve been aware that it’s on the way ever since Halloween. There are some who take offense at this ubiquitous celebration, particularly when it’s well known that many of the celebrants have no apparent relationship to Jesus. But in reality it’s perfectly appropriate for everyone to participate in the sharing of gifts and the exchange of greetings! Because, as Titus puts it so well, the birth of Jesus has by God’s grace, brought salvation to all. Everyone is included! Therefore a universal celebration is most certainly appropriate. Now it is also true that Titus adds a verse or two! He writes that with the gift comes an expectation that recipients will renounce impiety and live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly. That’s the other side of Christmas, the part that even the faithful folks are reluctant to take to heart. That’s just not the way that most of us live! But this isn’t the time of the year to focus on our brokenness. These next days are a time to simply celebrate the gift of life! It really is for all! Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Thought for the Day: When is a good time to think about our brokenness?

Isaiah 9:2-7

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” vs. 6

When Hezekiah ascended to the throne of Judah in the late 8th century BC, Isaiah took note of the hopes and dreams that accompanied the beginning of his reign. Hezekiah knew that the rising power of Assyria was a threat to the nation, and took steps to reform Temple practices and abolish idolatry, while at the same time strengthening the walls of Jerusalem. He was regarded as a good and righteous king, fully deserving of the accolades recorded here. Jerusalem survived the attack of the Assyrians, and they retreated to Nineveh, their capital. 

But that moment of glory didn’t last. Hezekiah died and was followed by a succession of lesser kings from the line of David. But early Christians took note of this verse and saw in it a reference to the birth of Jesus. Soon all the names initially attached to Hezekiah were connected to the child of Bethlehem, and have become familiar to many through the words of Handel’s Messiah. In fact these verses are probably some of the most recognizable of the entire oratorio.. The words are a reminder to us that the saving acts of God are not confined to any particular generation, but have been continually repeated through all of recorded history. We’re always looking for a new messianic leader, and some are even now yearning for the rebirth of the Christ.

Thought for the Day: What would the rebirth of Christ be like?

Matthew 1:22-25

“All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, “God is with us.”’” vss. 22-23

During the lifetime of Jesus there is no indication that any of his disciples knew anything about his virgin birth. Paul, the writer of a large portion of the New Testament, doesn’t mention anything about it. But when Matthew and Luke wrote their accounts of Jesus’ life and decided to write about his birth, they both refer to Mary as a virgin. They wanted their readers to know that Jesus’ birth was a fulfillment of Hebrew scripture. As a result the story of the virgin birth has been embedded in our tradition, even though it has nothing to do with the life and ministry of Jesus. In recent years it has become a huge issue for some Christians, and they include it as one of the Five Fundamentals, one of the things that a person has to believe in order to be saved. As a result it is often used as an opener in any conversation about faith. People are asked, “Do you believe in the Virgin Birth?,” and there’s no wiggle room. A “yes” or a “no” is expected. The problem is that there are many people who either don’t believe in the Virgin Birth or don’t care, and they are fiercely committed and faithful followers of Jesus. Thank God that they are part of our family of faith!

Thought for the Day: What does the Virgin Birth mean to me?

Matthew 1:18-21

“But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” vs. 20

Like Luke, when Matthew put together his account of Jesus’ life and ministry, he decided to include the story of Jesus’ birth, but his description doesn’t have the flair and drama that Luke includes. There’s no mention of an annunciation or a census or a harrowing birth in a stable. Joseph and Mary already live in Bethlehem, and Jesus was born in Joseph’s home. And Joseph is the star of the show! His dilemma is whether to actually take the already pregnant Mary as his wife. When he decides to find a way to dismiss her privately and not expose her to public shame, he has a dream in which a messenger from God advises him to just marry her. The child she carried was from the Holy Spirit! So Matthew’s emphasis is on Joseph’s faith, not Mary’s, and he is portrayed as an exceedingly righteous man. It’s good to have male models for faithfulness! There are many more women than men in our congregations and there are some who fear the feminization of the church. A few are even upset by the presence of female pastors and bishops. So it’s good to have “Josephs” among us, male spiritual leaders who are also filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thought for the Day: Why are men sometimes reluctant to share their faith?